SAPS Generals Back At Work As Medicare24 Probe Continues
Three senior South African Police Service generals linked to the controversial Medicare24 tender have returned to work while internal disciplinary processes continue.
Lieutenant General Lineo Nkhuoa, who was formerly the acting Deputy National Commissioner for Support Services and Divisional Commissioner for Human Resource Management, has been placed temporarily in the Division: Inspectorate.
Nkhuoa was among senior officers served with notices of intention to suspend following a forensic investigation into the Medicare24 tender. She was accused of signing a service-level agreement linked to the contract without proper oversight.
Lieutenant General (Adv) Simo W. Chamane, previously the Divisional Commissioner for Legal Services, has been moved temporarily to Forensics within the Division: Detectives and Forensic Services. He was suspended in June amid findings related to the Medicare24 procurement process and alleged links to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Lieutenant General Edith Nonkululeko Mavundla remains Divisional Commissioner for Technology Management Services. She had been served with a notice of intention to suspend in connection with her role as deputy chairperson of the Bid Adjudication Committee that approved the tender.
The Medicare24 contract, reported at between about R228 million and R360 million, was awarded to provide medical screening and related health services to SAPS members in the Tshwane district. The tender has come under scrutiny over alleged procurement irregularities and Matlala’s links to the process.
SAPS confirmed in August that seven officers suspended over their involvement in the tender had returned to work, but stressed that their return did not mean they had been cleared.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said disciplinary proceedings and related investigations remained ongoing and that it would be premature to comment on their outcome.
Under SAPS disciplinary regulations, a disciplinary hearing should, as far as practically possible, be finalised within 60 calendar days. However, the expiry of that period does not automatically bring disciplinary proceedings to an end.
The return of the officers to duty therefore does not amount to an acquittal or finding that they committed no wrongdoing. The disciplinary and related investigations into the Medicare24 tender remain ongoing.
